Picket Fence

The McDaniels #1

by Kimberly Cates

Finnoula O'Grady had never had a home. Growing up in foster care, Finn had spent her childhood longing for a little house with a white picket fence. Years later her dreams came true when she inherited the rundown March Winds. But someone else was in love with her house -- young Emma, the lonely niece of her next-door neighbor Cade McDaniel.

Cade knew nothing about being a single parent. The only love and caring he'd ever done were for the old houses he restored for a living. But there was no denying that Finn's arrival had him feeling decidedly more human than usual. And when Emma finds a child's 150-year-old diary, they unearth a story that brings the three wounded souls together and begins to change March Winds from just a house...into a home.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Fiction, Contemporary

384 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Kimberly Cates lives in Illinois with her family.
Pseudonyms: Kimberleigh Caitlin and Kim Cates.

Reviews

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, I finally found the first book in this series. I have basically read this series backwards which I really hate to do. I am a "read in sequence" kind of gal. My daughter gave me the first book that I read which happens to be the 3rd book in the series (it was called The Wedding Dress). I liked these books a lot. I would have liked them better if I didn't know what was going to happen because of reading them backwards.

Anyway, a good romance series, for me lots of tears especially the second book (The Gazebo). I look forward to reading more of Kimberly Cates books in the future and if there are any more series books I hope that I can figure out the proper sequence before starting.

So should you want to read a good series romance, read the books in this order:

Picket Fence, The Gazebo, and then The Wedding Dress. You will get to know the McDaniel family from Whitewater IL and hopefully come to like them as much as I did.

Enjoy.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

pretty good book to read

[Sahar's Honest Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Romance That Will Break Your Heart and Put It Back Together Again

Both Finn and Cade were fighting demons from their past. Could they find healing together? A sad little girl would bring them together, and she would challenge them, too.

This is an emotional, heartwarming, and heart-wrenching story, all at once. You might want to keep that box of tissues handy. There are parts of the story that made me ugly cry. It is sad when children have to pay for their parents' mistakes, and Cade, Emma, and Finn were suffering because of the actions of people who should have protected them. They do say that the ones you love are the ones who hurt you the most, and it is true in this story. Although, in many places, this is a sad story, you won’t be disappointed in the end. I enjoyed this story and would recommend it to those who enjoy emotional, contemporary romance that touches the heart.

[Marie Bourgery · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cade and his niece Emma were angry when Finn bought the decrepit reportedly haunted house next door but for different reasons. Emma was so upset over being abandoned by her mother, feeling unwanted by her uncle, losing her connection to the girl that lived in the house next door years ago, that she resorted to terrorizing Finn and destroying her house at night. Even though she was lashing out I don’t know how I would deal with that. Cade is grump who loudly and rudely loses his temper and makes assumptions, so if I were Finn I wouldn’t feel comfortable in a relationship with him. Finn is broken too by her father’s repeated abandonment and his final actions hurt her again. This was a steamy enemies to lovers romance.

[Sheri-Lynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never met a book by Ms. Cates that I didn't love. Yes, I mean "met." Her storytelling and story-building skills are so well-honed that I find myself quickly wrapped up in the worlds she creates. 

Reading Picket Fence was like taking a virtual hike up a mountain when I had no idea I'd be hiking. Each step along the way through the converging paths of Finnoula (Finn) and Cade brought me to new levels of understanding who these characters were. Each twist and turn had me wondering where I was being led.
 
I can see why this book was a finalist for Romance Writers of America's Best Single Title Contemporary Romance. I certainly loved it, and I'm confident you will, too!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Margaret Watkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although romantic, I found this novel really sad in that both Finn and Cade are living with the consequences of the actions of others. There is no such thing as a perfect family, but in this case, the characters who suffered the most found solace in one another and brought about healing for the brokenhearted and wholeness. Finn in particular kept having to deal with the fallout of her father's crazy choices, but ultimately she was able to make peace with the past and make reparation on his behalf. The novel comes to a humorous and happy conclusion and the chance for new beginnings. I received a copy of this novel as a gift through BookSprout and this is my honest and voluntary review.

[Lisa H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Houses and homes..

Finn finally has a home, a house to call her own after years of instability.

Emma is a lonely off child living next door.

Cade is her uncle who renovates old houses.

More about finding home than picket fences.

[Lisa Arnold · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok it's a romance, a librarian moves into an old house in need of fixing up. The town thinks she is mad, but then a little girls revenge means her Uncle signs up to help clean up the mess. The girl is lost without her mother, the woman was in and out of foster homes and the uncle is clueless

[Lorah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Get ready for an emotional roller coaster as life throws a little bit of everything at the characters in this story.

[Linda Rook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leaning how to love, after a troubled childhood. Great book

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great book by Kimberly Cates. I accidentally read the third book in this series by accident, because I didn't realize it was part of a series. Once I started reading, I was immediately drawn into the story. Kimberly Cates is a very talented writer. She makes the characters so real, you feel as if the they are part of your circle of friends in a very short time. The book starts with the main character (her name escapes me at the moment) who is a librarian, buying an old, delapitated house, that has long been the haunted house of the neighborhood. She moves into a very small town, where she is the newcomer. She has an unfortunate encounter with her neighbors almost immediately after moving in and that starts the beginning of a rough start for her at her new house. She is in her 30's and hasn't had a house she can call home for as long as she can remember. Her father had promised to buy her this house when she was very young, but had never lived up to that promise. I can't say much more beyond this as it will give away the story. Very enjoyable read, extremely hard to put down!

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good book, loved the story and the characters. I'm totally getting into Ms. Cates' work. The end was a little predictable, but still good. Only complaint is that she didn't build up to or draw out the 2 or 3 really suspenseful/exciting parts - she just kept on going like they were no big deal. Other than that, really enjoyed the book.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book showed people who all had suffered from a want to belong. Cade's love for Finn seemed very real. I loved how Finn put Emma first to everything. I like that Cates included a misunderstanding between the main couple towards the end, because it shows to us readers how they will handle things in the future.

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two people come together, each thinking romance was out of the question because of their parents and the struggles they had. Naturally, a HEA ending was in the works but I like the characterization, especially Emma.

[Bcgrad · Rating 3 out of 5]

"She dealt with him with the aplomb of Sigfried & Roy handling a jillion-pound lion."

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

very entertaining story, tho on the predictable side for sure. still, I enjoyed it quite a bit and would recommend it as a nice summer read.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book was sad in some places. Glad it had a happier ending. Hope to see more of want the Author is writing sometime.

[L A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very engaging and emotional read. If you are looking for a light and fluffy read, this will not be the book for you.